We have recently received a complaint from a customer who is unhappy to learn that Aussie Soles are manufactured in China.  You may have seen the comment on our blog... we actually did remove the ongoing conversation with this customer from the blog, since it was more appropriate to hold a private conversation, but it got us to thinking about perceptions.  Our customer was not unhappy with the shoes, but was concerned due to his belief that products manufactured in China was taking away Canadian jobs.

First off, Australian shoes in Canada are clearly going to be imported!  Aussie Soles are designed in Australia by an Australian.  Make no mistake - if you purchase a pair of Aussie Soles and notice a sticker that says "made in China", you have purchased an authentic pair of Aussie Soles.  Aussie Soles, regardless of where they are distributed, are made in China.  Yes, manufacturing in China is cheaper than in North America (or Australia!).  That is why Aussie Soles are so reasonably priced!

But did you know that many of the products you use everyday are "made in China"?  Importing products is a huge industry in Canada.  The vast majority of products we use in Canada were not manufactured here.  With technology and improved transportation, our world is getting smaller and smaller.  We are living in a truly global economy.  If we decided not to purchase products that were not manufactured here, or even products manufactured in China, we would be without, for one thing, Apple products, just as an example.  Also, your iPad would cost much more if it was not manufactured in China. 

WOW!  Finally!  First of all, we want to express our thanks to all who have been so patiently waiting to order their shoes.  We have truly learned a lot through this process, so while summer is officially over, you can now order your Starfish sandals for next year!  But you know, Starfish aren't only the best sandal ever for summer wear - many Aussie Soles fans wear them as slippers indoors year round.


We also have a selection of Snuggs available.  The only color available at this time, is the most popular color combo: Tan/Natural.  They are available in all sizes from baby to adult.  Order early because supplies are limited and we do expect to run out fast.


Also available in the Online Store:  the new Skipper.  This is a great shoe for the athletic types.  We have been advised by more than one runner that this is the best shoe for running and working out because it is lightweight and fits snuggly to the foot.  Unfortunately, we have a limited selection of sizes and colors available in this shipment.  The smallest size is Euro 40 which is equivalent to a Men's Size 8 or Ladies 8.5 - 9.  We have two colors available in this shipment - black and stone.


Please leave us a note on the shopping cart page to let us know what colors and sizes you are interested in and we will do our best to ensure your selections are included in future shipments!


Let's go shopping!!

As you can see, the shipment has indeed arrived.  We have seen it with our own eyes, and we are working with customs to meet their requirements so they can be released.  We expect to have that done on Monday, and fingers are crossed for release on Tuesday, September 28 - watch for that cart to be open by the weekend, or early next week.


We will need to inventory them, then update the website/shopping cart.  Demand has been great so we need be sure we keep close tabs on our inventory, while waiting for the next shipment... Next time should go much smoother now that we're learning the importing ropes and working out the kinks!